Being involved in a multi-vehicle pileup can be incredibly jarring. These accidents can happen in an instant, and it may not be initially clear who is to blame. Understanding the steps involved in proving liability in a multi-vehicle pileup case can help you begin to pinpoint who was at fault and explore your legal options.
Let an experienced car accident attorney help you understand fault and your legal rights after this type of accident.
Common Causes of Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Multi-vehicle accidents can happen for all sorts of reasons. Assessing the possible cause of your accident is an important first step in evaluating which party may have been liable.
Common causes of these collisions include:
- Following a vehicle too closely or tailgating
- Changing lanes or passing other vehicles recklessly
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Speeding in hazardous conditions
When drivers make these errors in busy, congested areas or on roads with high speed limits, they may impact multiple other drivers and cause serious damage.
Potential Liable Parties in a Multi-Vehicle Pileup
Alabama follows a pure contributory negligence statute for assigning fault in car accidents. If someone is found to be even 1% at fault for their own accident, they may be barred from recovering any damages from other parties. This is unique from the comparative negligence doctrine that governs many other states and allows multiple parties to share fault.
Proving liability in a multi-vehicle pileup case can often be challenging due to the large number of parties involved in these accidents. Any of these parties may have been liable, for example:
- The front-most driver, for suddenly stopping in an unsafe area or making another dangerous maneuver that led to the collision
- The rear-most driver, for rear-ending the driver in front of them and leading that car to crash into the vehicle in front of it, creating a chain-reaction collision
- A driver in the middle of the chain, for rear-ending a driver in front of them and causing the driver behind them to strike their vehicle as well
- A vehicle manufacturer, for producing defective parts that led to a malfunction and caused the crash
- A trucking company, for improper cargo loading, driver fatigue, or inadequate driver training, causing a dangerous situation that led to the accident
Multiple drivers or parties may share liability for multi-car pileups, which can be complicated in states like Alabama that follow pure contributory negligence policies. For example, the person who rear-ended another vehicle may technically be liable because they should have left a safe following distance. But another party, such as the first driver in the chain, may also be liable for stopping so suddenly that the driver behind them could not have reasonably stopped in time.
All of the drivers who share liability may be prohibited from seeking damages from other parties.
Proving Liability in a Multi-Vehicle Pileup
Because Alabama’s fault laws are strict, it is even more important that you effectively prove when another driver or party was at fault in your accident. These actions can help you prove liability in your multi-vehicle pileup case.
You can usually expect one or several police officers to arrive at the scene of a multi-car pileup. An officer likely created an accident report with the details of the crash, a sketch of the positions of all vehicles involved, driver statements, and other information. Some police reports also include the officer’s assessment of how the accident happened. This report can be a good starting point for fault determination.
The insurance companies representing the drivers involved in the accident will reach their own liability determinations after reviewing the circumstances of the accident. If you disagree with these determinations, you can attempt to gather evidence to show that you were not responsible for the accident. Compelling evidence might include:
- Eyewitness testimony pointing to how the accident started, such as one driver rear-ending another
- Photos of the accident scene that show the positions of each vehicle and the damage they experienced to help paint a picture of how the accident happened
- Dashcam footage of the accident, which can be extremely helpful if available
- Testimony from accident reconstructionists, who review the evidence in an accident and recreate it using software to determine how it happened
- Black box data from the vehicles involved in the accident, which can help support the accident reconstruction
How an Attorney Can Assist You
Proving liability in a multi-vehicle pileup is an overwhelming task, especially while you are recovering from significant injuries and the emotional trauma of the accident. A car accident attorney can take some of this burden off your shoulders by investigating the accident for you and evaluating what types of evidence may be helpful in establishing fault.
They can communicate with the insurance company on your behalf and appeal or negotiate claim decisions that are unfair, presenting additional evidence to show the insurance company that you were in no way responsible for the accident.
Your attorney can also assist with tasks such as:
- Filing your claim with the insurance company
- Gathering and submitting all necessary documentation
- Communicating with the other parties and their insurance companies
- Preparing all evidence to support your claim
- Coordinating with medical professionals and eyewitnesses for testimony collection
- Representing you in court, if necessary
- Estimating your damages and seeking a compensation amount that attempts to cover all expenses
You can focus on recovering from injuries while your attorney handles these steps for you.
Seek Legal Assistance With Your Multi-Vehicle Pileup Case
Hiring a lawyer can be helpful as you navigate the aftermath of an accident involving multiple other vehicles. Whether you need help proving liability in your multi-vehicle pileup case or simply with navigating the insurance claims process, an attorney can provide guidance and help you understand your legal rights.
Jackson & Foster Law represents car accident victims in Mobile, AL. We focus on providing affordable representation to make our services accessible to more clients.
Contact us today at 251-433-6699 to request a free consultation with our car accident attorneys.
